Weston racked up their second victory in succession in their bid to avoid relegation.

WESTON 31 pts

OXFORD HARLEQUINS 18 pts

NOT for the first time this season, Weston allowed the opposition to score points during the final minutes of the match.

On this occasion it mattered not because the Seasiders had enough points in the bank, but if they are to escape relegation, they must give it their all for the entire match.

By the 15th minute at the Recreation Ground they were 12 points ahead. Rapid second phase possession gave full-back Chris Young an unconverted try in the fourth minute and Young was in attacking action again 11 minutes later when he delivered the scoring pass to centre Kirk Middlemiss, fly-half Glenn Dickson converting.

A yellow card for Quins’ lock Alan Purchase in the 32nd minute was immediately taken advantage of when wing Sylvan Edwards was given an easy run to the line.

But the scoreline did not accurately describe Oxford’s efforts and as they pressed in first-half stoppage time, centre Will Sharrott reduced their arrears with a penalty for an interval lead of 17-3.

Oxford attacked with vigour early in the second period and they will surely rue their knock-on in the first minute.

However, they persisted and Sharrott’s second penalty followed. But the Seasiders stretched their lead within three minutes when the visitors’ defence faltered on their own line and scrum-half Hayden Tuttiett dived on the loose ball.

Dickson converted for 24-6 and slick handling produced a try for replacement George Sparks, Dickson’s third conversion taking the score to 31-6.

But, as what seems to be usual this season, Weston took their foot off the accelerator and the visitors were able to take maximum advantage with tries by wing Jack Robinson and full-back Kristian Borthwick, Sharrott adding one conversion.

Weston: C Young, S Edwards, K Middlemiss, O Snook, P Sprague, G Dickson (c), H Tuttiett, S Coles, M Hocking, O Streeter, S Eaton, A Russell, E Bulger, B Cox, C Gleeson. Replacements: D Crompton, G Sparks and H Jones.

This was a valuable victory for Weston in their fight against the drop and they will need to produce their best in the run-in to the end of the campaign.

Last Saturday, until time added, they performed more than adequately with Middlemiss, Dickson and Young putting in good shifts, and the pack, as a unit also made their presence felt.

There are no fixtures for any of the club’s teams on Saturday so they must get ready for strong opposition to the end of the season.

On Saturday week, they travel to Bracknell before hosting league leaders Redingensians on March 28 for the final home match of the campaign. On April 11 they are at Hutton Moore against Hornets and a week later they travel to Exmouth.

It is a tough ask, but on the evidence of their performance last Saturday, they are well capable of providing some shocks.